THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15494, 21 December 1910, Page 4

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

TO TER JCDITOK. Sir, —My attention has been drawn to the statement made by Mr H. Beauchamp, chairman of the Gear Meat Company, at tho annual meeting of his company at Wellington on Saturday last, when ho said “ ho had had personal experience of the handling of his company’s meat in London, and the hysterical statements concerning scandalous handling of carcases at Home was not justified at all. The company’s meat went out of the ships into barges and then entered warehouses on the south side of the Thames. The carcases could not he damaged in any of warehouses and were invariably delivered in good order and condition.” Now, 1 am exceedingly sorry to read these remarks of Mr Beauchamp’s, for I feel sure he does not know the true condition of affairs regarding the handling of our frozen produco in London. I would like to ask Mr Beauchamp who is in tho best position to judge as to the truth and fairness of what lie has been pleased to term "hysterical statements Mr Beauchamp, residing and carrying on a busy lifo in New Zealand, or the principal meat men doing business in London, including firms actually handling some of his company’s meat there? As a fair-minded man ho must acknowledge that the London meat merchants, who are oil the spot and know all details are tho best judges. Permit mo to say that long before publicity was given through the Press to the so-called “ hysterical state--1 ments ’’ they were reduced to writing and submitted to the principal meat men in London by the New Zealand Committee, and they were asked to 1 Mate their opinion upon them in writing, and if there wore any unfair, untrue or exaggerated statements, or any recommendation? being put forward j that were not in the interest of the ! meat business from a producer’s standi point, to sav so then and to correct ; same’ so that the necessity of making ! any corrections could be verified while | the committee was in London, and if j they were not prepared to do so and attempted to discredit the statements alter .lie committee left London then the committee would have something to say about them. While, of course, many of the cllegations and statements were not very palatable to those who have controlled and directed, up to the present, the operations concerning the handling of New Zealand’s frozen produce, yet not one of these London merchants gave ; the committee for publicity a single

scratch of tho pen against what Mr Beauchamp now calls “ hysterical statements.” ill wore told and invited to make a written statement, which the committee would attach to their report and give full publicity to in New Zealand at the sarno time as they made known their own allegations and recommendations. I would suggest to Mr Beauchamp that if under such circumstances his company’s representatives in London could not soo their way to defend the position or take up a brief on behalf of tho present extremely unsatisfactory system, that lie himself is taking up a very weak and dangerous position in doing so. I have actual particulars and facts which, if published, would go to disorove the statements that have been made by Mr Beauchamp so far as liis pwn company’s meat was concerned. Now, os I am aware that those producers who acted on the New Zealand Committee have no desire at this juncture to raise a quarrel with the freezing companies of Now Zealand, I will at present lefrain from giving publicity to the facts referred to, unless Mr Beauchamp would desire us to make public through the Press data which is apparently not known to him at the present time, but which very largely affects tho interests of tho producers who supply his company. In concluding, I would venture to caution Mr Beauchamp and the representatives of oilier freezing companies in this dominion to be careful as to what thev sav and do at this juncture. and should any of them come forward and put their fingers in the lire they must not blame myself or any of the other members of the New

Zealand Committee if they get them' burnt. I feel quite sure that if Mr Beauchamp understood the real position he would come forward and give every assistance, which I trust he will yet see his way to do.—l am, etc., W. DOUGLAS LYSNAR. Gisborne, December 19, 1910.